Read Online Hello LAlaland (Lost in LAlaland) by Madi Merek - Free Book Online
Authors: Madi Merek
Ads: Link
a woman’s body, I was confident in the fact that my flaws, like the light gray stretch marks that littered my stomach and hips from pregnancy, only added to the betterment of my womanhood.
As I entered the garden tent, I prepared myself for the stares and whispers from Tony’s old friends. For a moment, I wondered if seducing someone of his former ranking in the class had been a very good idea. Though I’d told Tony that I wasn’t afraid of anyone, I felt a trembling in my stomach, belying my poised words. I hadn’t been at the reunion festivities the past two nights, and this was the reason why. Instead, I’d been relaxing on the beach in Malibu, or drinking bottles of wine with Marci, or taking Ashley out shopping for baby clothes—filling up every moment of my days with things to take my mind off Tony Ricci.
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for the laughs and fingers that would be pointed my way. Head held high, I strode to the bar and ordered tequila, straight up, knowing I’d need the liquid courage to get through the night. Three former jocks, whom I knew would be the first attackers, found their way to me. Ethan, Luke, and Greg—the first boy I’d ever kissed—flanked me. I downed my shot of tequila before acknowledging their uninvited presence.
“Winifred Jensen . . .” Ethan read off of my name tag slowly, trying to place me in his memory.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and I wondered what kind of game they were playing. It would be much easier to bring the assholes to their knees if they would just come straight out and say something stupid about my night with Tony.
Greg was the first to interrupt my thoughts. “Winn? Winn Chapman?” he asked in shock. I saw the way his eyes danced over my body, focusing on my exposed thigh as astonishment morphed into lust in them.
Damn it. The last thing I needed right then was a second man trying to get under my skirt. With a deep sigh, I turned to him, hoping that my body language would let him know I was not interested in any way, shape, or form.
“Hi, Greg—guys,” I greeted dismissively. Tilting my empty glass toward the bartender, I asked him to top me off. The man poured me a double shot and pushed the glass back.
“I didn’t realize that you would be here,” Luke said as he stole the bar stool beside me, letting his gaze slide over me much the same way that Greg had. “You look . . . amazing. Your hair is a lot lighter. What have you been doing with yourself, besides working out, obviously?” What an ass. “God, what has it been?” he asked.
“Since this is our ten-year reunion, I’d say it’s been about a decade,” I offered with an unimpressed blink of my eyes. “I design clothes . . . like that suit jacket you’re wearing,” I pointed out, moving away from the bar. “Which, by the way, clashes with your slacks. Anyway, I’d better go find some people to mingle with. Later, guys.” I left Luke to stare down at his slacks, asking Ethan if they really didn’t go together.
“Wait up, Winn!” Greg called, jogging after me. With a roll of my eyes, I slowed my steps and turned toward him. “Why are you running away? It’s been a long time. Why don’t we go back into the hotel and do some . . . catching up.”
“Don’t you think that Tony would rather you didn’t try to hit on me?” I asked, frowning in confusion.
“Tony?” Greg questioned. “Like Anthony Ricci? Why in the hell would he give a shit?” I stared at him blankly, unsure of how to respond, and taken off guard. Maybe they weren’t friends anymore, or perhaps Tony really hadn’t told any of the guys about what happened between us? Greg’s words drew me out of my thoughts. “. . . was fucking mad as hell at me for kissing you back then. And now, just because he had the hots for you in high school, he thinks he has some claim on you?”
“No, jackass.” Tony’s voice filled my ears—a most welcome, and terrifying, relief. “I
As I entered the garden tent, I prepared myself for the stares and whispers from Tony’s old friends. For a moment, I wondered if seducing someone of his former ranking in the class had been a very good idea. Though I’d told Tony that I wasn’t afraid of anyone, I felt a trembling in my stomach, belying my poised words. I hadn’t been at the reunion festivities the past two nights, and this was the reason why. Instead, I’d been relaxing on the beach in Malibu, or drinking bottles of wine with Marci, or taking Ashley out shopping for baby clothes—filling up every moment of my days with things to take my mind off Tony Ricci.
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for the laughs and fingers that would be pointed my way. Head held high, I strode to the bar and ordered tequila, straight up, knowing I’d need the liquid courage to get through the night. Three former jocks, whom I knew would be the first attackers, found their way to me. Ethan, Luke, and Greg—the first boy I’d ever kissed—flanked me. I downed my shot of tequila before acknowledging their uninvited presence.
“Winifred Jensen . . .” Ethan read off of my name tag slowly, trying to place me in his memory.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and I wondered what kind of game they were playing. It would be much easier to bring the assholes to their knees if they would just come straight out and say something stupid about my night with Tony.
Greg was the first to interrupt my thoughts. “Winn? Winn Chapman?” he asked in shock. I saw the way his eyes danced over my body, focusing on my exposed thigh as astonishment morphed into lust in them.
Damn it. The last thing I needed right then was a second man trying to get under my skirt. With a deep sigh, I turned to him, hoping that my body language would let him know I was not interested in any way, shape, or form.
“Hi, Greg—guys,” I greeted dismissively. Tilting my empty glass toward the bartender, I asked him to top me off. The man poured me a double shot and pushed the glass back.
“I didn’t realize that you would be here,” Luke said as he stole the bar stool beside me, letting his gaze slide over me much the same way that Greg had. “You look . . . amazing. Your hair is a lot lighter. What have you been doing with yourself, besides working out, obviously?” What an ass. “God, what has it been?” he asked.
“Since this is our ten-year reunion, I’d say it’s been about a decade,” I offered with an unimpressed blink of my eyes. “I design clothes . . . like that suit jacket you’re wearing,” I pointed out, moving away from the bar. “Which, by the way, clashes with your slacks. Anyway, I’d better go find some people to mingle with. Later, guys.” I left Luke to stare down at his slacks, asking Ethan if they really didn’t go together.
“Wait up, Winn!” Greg called, jogging after me. With a roll of my eyes, I slowed my steps and turned toward him. “Why are you running away? It’s been a long time. Why don’t we go back into the hotel and do some . . . catching up.”
“Don’t you think that Tony would rather you didn’t try to hit on me?” I asked, frowning in confusion.
“Tony?” Greg questioned. “Like Anthony Ricci? Why in the hell would he give a shit?” I stared at him blankly, unsure of how to respond, and taken off guard. Maybe they weren’t friends anymore, or perhaps Tony really hadn’t told any of the guys about what happened between us? Greg’s words drew me out of my thoughts. “. . . was fucking mad as hell at me for kissing you back then. And now, just because he had the hots for you in high school, he thinks he has some claim on you?”
“No, jackass.” Tony’s voice filled my ears—a most welcome, and terrifying, relief. “I
Similar Books
